Cougars
overpower Saints in fourth quarter
Southern
Sports & Travel
The
Brookhaven Cougars used a 15-2 fourth quarter run to break open what was a
tight contest en-route to a 51-39 win over third ranked Trinity last night in
Brookhaven. The win clinched the District 5-AA title for the fifth ranked
Cougars but more importantly secured a number one seed which means they will
avoid an elimination game with either top ranked Central Private or fourth
ranked Bowling Green in next week’s Class AA South State Tournament.
It
was a stinging loss for a Trinity squad who just one week ago handed Brookhaven
a 50-46 loss in Natchez. The Saints slip to 19-6 and will play a first round
game on Monday or Tuesday for the right to face either Central Private or
Bowling Green in a “go home” game.
The
Saints finished the quarter on a transition bucket from Dre McCoy with 10
seconds remaining to trim the deficit to 12-8 after eight minutes of play.
Trinity
would stay within striking distance in the second quarter as the Saint’s
defensive intensity picked up.
Dre
McCoy canned two free throws to pull Trinity to within a basket at 12-10 thirty
seconds into the second quarter but Brookhaven would manage to withstand
Trinity’s defensive pressure and maintain a lead throughout the quarter.
Trinity
pulled to within two points on three occasions in the quarter but could not
overtake the Cougars.
Brookhaven
would extend their advantage to six points late in the quarter as Zack Smith
served up an assist to Peyton Hood and Will Hickman’s lay-in at the 1:41 mark
gave the Cougars a 22-16 cushion.
Dre
McCoy capitalized on a Brookhaven turnover to get an easy basket to close out
the first half with Trinity looking at a 22-18 deficit.
The
Saints immediately cashed in on another Brookhaven turnover to start the third
quarter as Tanner Cage drove hard to the basket and scored, plus one, to pull
the Saints to 22-21 but each time Trinity threatened Brookhaven had an answer.
With
3:51 left in the quarter and Brookhaven maintaining a 29-25 lead Trinity
finally pulled even with the Cougars.
Dre
McCoy sank two free throws and Tanner Cage’s lay-in at the 2:48 mark tied the
contest at 29-29 and forced a Brookhaven timeout.
Tommy
McCoy’s offensive rebound and put back would knot the game at 31-31 with 1:44
left in the quarter but Brookhaven got a 10 foot jumper off the glass from Will
Hickman and Hickman sank a 17 foot jumper in the closing seconds to stretch the
lead back to four points at 35-31 to close out the quarter.
Matthew
Evans would extend the Cougar lead to 37-31 as the senior drove the lane and
scored to start the final eight minutes of play.
Trinity
would get a bucket in the paint from senior Tanner Cage to stay within four
points at 37-33 with 6:20 left in regulation but the bottom was about to fall out for the Saints.
Peyton
Hood answered with a basket on the block and Will Hickman’s offensive rebound
and put back gave Brookhaven their biggest lead of the night at 41-33.
Brookhaven
junior Zack Smith registered two more assists on consecutive possessions and
both were to a cutting Matthew Evans who got behind the Trinity defense each
time.
The
Cougar run continued as Brookhaven capitalized on three consecutive Trinity
turnovers.
Will
Hickman scored in the paint and Gage Posey's assist in transition to Matthew
Evans pushed the lead to 49-33 with 1:40 to play.
Peyton
Hood would hit on one of two free throws to give Brookhaven their largest lead
of the night at 50-33. The Cougar’s 15-2 run was halted when Trinity’s Brandon
Brooks got a bucket with 1:26 remaining but the damage had been done as Brookhaven
earned a 51-39 win.
Brookhaven
(22-11) was led by senior Matthew Evans with 14 points, Will Hickman and Peyton
Hood (Photo right) added 13 each, Zack Smith 6 and Gage Posey 5.
Dre
McCoy had a game high 16 points for Trinity. Tanner Cage had 9, Tommy McCoy 6
and Garrett Vinson and Brandon Brooks 4 apiece.
Post Game with Brookhaven Head Coach Dale Watts
